Visiting the UK in March. Suggested things to do?

[Another Dave]

Hello,
I'm a long time lurker from back in the days of twin-turbo Ultima's, Derestrictor parting the clouds and delivering bright bits of wisdom and the demise of TVR. Now I have a vacation of 10 days set for the end of March and I would like suggestions for what to do car and bike related. I'm staying with friends near Harlow who have no problem driving around to events after doing some of the standard tourist stuff in London. Any suggestions for track days, sedan racing, bike events or even dog shows?
Thanks,
Dave

Edited by Another Dave on Monday 8th December 03:35

[BritishRacinGrin]

I can't help you with dog shows but in Harlow you are within a couple of hour's drive of several race circuits- Donington, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, and particularly close are Snetterton and Rockingham... and the end of March is the start of the racing season. Peruse the events calendars at these circuit websites to see if anything tickles your fancy. Turn up early, have a bacon roll and take in the sights, smells and characters in the paddock before the track action starts.

If you have a UK license you can also participate in track days at these circuits and there are companies which will hire you a car for the purpose.

[Dan Friel]

If you can get tickets, I recommend the following:

https://grrc.goodwood.com/section/members-meeting-...

[Another Dave]

Thank you both for the information. Goodwood looks fantastic! Are there other racing events someone here is partisipating in about that time frame? I would watch almost anything but autocrossing Clubmans.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Buy a badly modified car, get a rubbish number plate for it, park poorly in a supermarket car park and don't take up the entire road when turning right. It'll be awesome

[Troubleatmill]

This.... http://www.palmersport.com

[Vaud]

Great go-kart track here:

http://www.rye-house.co.uk

And not far from Harlow. Which is a hateful place, ensure your friends take you way from it as much as possible.

[williamp]

Can you stretch to the beginning of arpil? Easter is 6th april this year, so a few things will be closed. Also traffic can be very busy, with bad drivers on the road

But you have the 6 hours of fia wec at silverstone. toyota, audi, porsche Gt1 etc
British superbikes at donington (say 2hrs north of london in average traffic)
Both over the easter weekend

A few must-sees are brooklands, south-west of London. Worlds first motor racing circuit, can still walk up banking , great museum. Plus mercedes benz world. If you like aircraft, then the RAF museum at Hendon is pretty close to where you are staying.

Dont forget to pop in and see the queen. No need to book, just pop over the gates and introduce yourself. Tell her I sent you

[Another Dave]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Buy a badly modified car, get a rubbish number plate for it, park poorly in a supermarket car park and don't take up the entire road when turning right. It'll be awesome

Right! I can get plenty of poor parking and riced cars here in the States, thankyouverymuch!!!
I'm looking for more of the cars I've only seen in magazines and places I've heard so much of.

Edited by Another Dave on Monday 8th December 22:54

[Another Dave]

Vaud said:

Great go-kart track here:

http://www.rye-house.co.uk

And not far from Harlow. Which is a hateful place, ensure your friends take you way from it as much as possible.

Carting is something all of us would enjoy. What is the problem with Harlow?

[Another Dave]

williamp said:

Can you stretch to the beginning of arpil? Easter is 6th april this year, so a few things will be closed. Also traffic can be very busy, with bad drivers on the road

But you have the 6 hours of fia wec at silverstone. toyota, audi, porsche Gt1 etc
British superbikes at donington (say 2hrs north of london in average traffic)
Both over the easter weekend

A few must-sees are brooklands, south-west of London. Worlds first motor racing circuit, can still walk up banking , great museum. Plus mercedes benz world. If you like aircraft, then the RAF museum at Hendon is pretty close to where you are staying.

Dont forget to pop in and see the queen. No need to book, just pop over the gates and introduce yourself. Tell her I sent you

Hendon is already on my list and I'm not sure if I can get things streached to the first week of April, but that Silverstone meet looks awesome!

[Vaud]

Another Dave said:

Carting is something all of us would enjoy. What is the problem with Harlow?

It's a concrete hell hole built after the war to resolve housing shortages. Some nice villages near by and Cambridge / London / St Albans not far away if you want something that is a bit, well, nicer.

[Another Dave]

Vaud said:

It's a concrete hell hole built after the war to resolve housing shortages. Some nice villages near by and Cambridge / London / St Albans not far away if you want something that is a bit, well, nicer.

Thanks. My friend is there on a 6 month consultancy contract and I'm only interested in her safety.

[ecsrobin]

Dan Friel said:

If you can get tickets, I recommend the following:

https://grrc.goodwood.com/section/members-meeting-...

This. If you can get tickets go for the Saturday or the weekend. There is a problem though you will be disappointed for the rest of the year as no other event comes close to this.

[Another Dave]

ecsrobin said:

Dan Friel said:

If you can get tickets, I recommend the following:

https://grrc.goodwood.com/section/members-meeting-...

This. If you can get tickets go for the Saturday or the weekend. There is a problem though you will be disappointed for the rest of the year as no other event comes close to this.

This will be my first visit to England and I fully expect to be spoiled! I have been to several Concours (Laguna Seca) and the classic races there but seeing your cars is what I want.
Thanks!

Edited by Another Dave on Tuesday 9th December 04:18

[Sir Bagalot]

Whilst at Mercedes World at Brooklands get a 1 hour AMG experience

[Vaud]

Another Dave said:

Vaud said:

It's a concrete hell hole built after the war to resolve housing shortages. Some nice villages near by and Cambridge / London / St Albans not far away if you want something that is a bit, well, nicer.

Thanks. My friend is there on a 6 month consultancy contract and I'm only interested in her safety.

It's not unsafe per se, just not he prettiest of towns or places to be.

[gfunk]

Karting at buckmore park and Santa pod for some drag action?

[0llie]

Sir Bagalot said:

Whilst at Mercedes World at Brooklands get a 1 hour AMG experience

Definitely this. Worth every penny.

Looks like you may just miss the first BTCC race of the year, it's held at Brands Hatch on 4-5th April, well worth catching if you were still here.

[RobM77]

Mercedes Benz World is definitely worth visiting. If you look at the prices of the drives there and count up the fuel and tyres they must get through then it's clearly generously subsidised. Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone (or whatever it's called) is also well worth a visit I hear (I haven't been myself) and like MBW, it's good value too - you could team that up with a visit to Silverstone itself if there's any racing on (and if not you could spend an hour watching any testing that may be on the track/s). As already mentioned, check the schedules for race tracks near London - Brands being the most obvious, but if you've got a car to drive when on holiday then you could easily get up to Silverstone or down my way to Castle Combe.